Sounding and damping mechanism for music-boxes.



Patented Dec. 5, I899. No. 638,524. M- scHl-uss.

SOUNDING AND DAMPING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC BOXES.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheei l.

WITNESSES /N VENTOH A NEYS N0.- 638,524. Patented Dec. 5, I899. M. SCHLUSS.

SOUNDING AND DAMPING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC BOXES.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TNESSES I //v VENTOI? W A NEYS .n-vz-noums PEYERS cc. PHClYO-LIYHU..WASHINGYON. nv c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX SCHLUSS, OF LEIPSIO, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYMPHONION MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOUNDING AND DAMPING MECHANISM FOR MUSIC-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,524, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed August 11, 1899 Serial No. 726,866. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that 1, MAX ScnLUss, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperorof Germany, residing at Leipsic-Gohlis, in the Kingdom of Saxony and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding and Damping Mechanism for Music-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved sounding and damping mechanism for mechanical musical instruments with soundemitting combs or reeds in which the new feature consists in dispensing with the usual slitted support for the picker or star wheels and dampers and arranging the star-wheels, dampers, &c., in proper manner on a common shaft.

This invention is an improvement on the construction shown in the patent granted to Josef Natterer, dated March 28, 1899, No. 621,844, in which the supporting-brackets are reduced to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are sectional side and edge views, respectively, of so much of the picking and damping mechanism as is necessary to show my improvement and in which the parts are shown in position just after picking. Figs. 3 and 4 are side and edge views, respectively, of my improved damper. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional side and edge views, respectively, of same parts as in Figs. 1 and2, showing them in position just before picking and while damping. Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate an apparent modification in which the damper is bifurcated or provided with two arms for acting on two comb or reed plates. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the entire mechanism.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the aforesaid patent there is arranged on the base or sounding-board, such as A, (see Fig. 9,) a minimum number of brackets, such as B B, which support a stationary or fixed shaft, such as C, on which the picker or star wheels, such as D, which are spaced by washers, such as D, turn.

In the present invention the star-wheels D and the dampers E are mounted on the same shaft 0, and the dampers are so arranged that their position relatively to the star wheels D is definitely fixed. This can be accomplished by providing the common shaft 0, Fig; 9, with two grooves 17. n, Figs. 1, 5, and 7, in which the corresponding lugs d d of the damper collars or hubs project, Figs. 3 and 8.

The dampers E are each preferably made of sheet-steel,and their form can be Varied and arranged either for one or for several reeds or comb-teeth 2. Each damper E has a dependent leg portion E, which is anchored on the shaft 0 between the washers D and the picker star-wheels and from the lower ends of which the spring damping arms or fingers extend upwardly. The spring-arms c of the damper E, which produce the damping action, project in the well-known manner between the tongues or teeth of thecomb and form contact, according to the damperdevice shown in German Patent No. $8,052, with the co1nb-teeth before each picking, so as to produce the proper damping, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. By the turning of each picker or star wheel I) by the music-disk .9 one tooth of the same removes the spring-arm e of the damper E from the tongue or reed, so that the latter is permitted to be freely vibrated and sounded. By the continuation of the motion of the picker or star wheel D by the music-disk s the damper-arm e is returned into its normal position for damping the tongue or reed. hen the damper is used for severalfor instance, for two-combs z, the same construction is adopted; butin this case each damper is provided with two springarms 6 and c.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In sounding and damping mechanism for music-boxes, the combination of a stationary shaft, means for supporting the same, the picker or star wheels suitably spaced on said shaft, and the dampers anchored to said shaft, substantially as set forth.

In sounding and damping mechanism for music-boxes, the combination of a shaft,

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10 wheels arranged thereon, and dampers hanging from and anchored to said shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX SCHLUSS.

Witnesses:

HANS KANITZ, RUDOLPH FRICKE. 

